Brassiere



' 2 sheets-sheet 1 M. STEIN BRASSIERE' Nov. 6, 1962 Filed Feb. 23, 1960 i.- .....Jlunwn'l M. STEIN BRASSIERE Nov. 6, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1960 Svc im In? INVENTOR.

@4W/l zorney 3,052,216 Patented Nov. 6, 1962 fine 3,062,216 BRASSIERE Max Stein, Villa Park, DI., assignor to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 10,404 7 Claims. (Cl. 12S-467) My invention relates to brassieres and has to do more particularly with a new and improved brassiere construction which will provide adequate support for the bust together with a maximum of comfort.

For many years it has been considered desirable for a brassiere to provide maximum support and uplift for the bust in order to improve the contours of Ythe Wearers figure. To accomplish this purpose all sorts of stiifening devices have been employed in the cup portions of brassieres, particularly in the lower portion thereof, in the form of stays, stiffening fabrics, etc. Many of these constructions have been commercially successful, but most of them are subject to various disadvantages, such as excessive cost of manufacture, a degree of discomfort, etc.

An object of my invention is -to provide an article of the class described which will be relatively inexpensive to produce and may be Worn with a maximum of comfort.

More particularly, my invention contemplates a new and improved bust cup construction which will provide all the necessary support and uplift and will, at the same time, be light in weight, well ventilated and soft and smooth to the skin, so that the garment may be worn with maximum comfort in the hottest weather.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the `drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating certain preferred embodiments of my invention, wherein FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one style of brassiere embodying my invention, with portions of fabric cut away for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded cross section, reproducing a section of the lower portion of FIG. 2 on a greatly enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a plan View showing a section of an openmesh stilfening material constituting one element of my invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a modified form of stilening material which might be used in the invention interchangeably with that of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of another style of brassiere embodying my invention;

FIG. 7 is a similar View showing still another style of brassiere in which my invention is incorporated, and

FIG. 8 is a similar View of still another style of garment incorporatiing my invention.

My invention relates particularly to improved bust cup construction, and may be incorporated in brassieres and like garments of any known or other suitable style or construction. Hence, I will not describe with any particularity the overall construction of the brassiere except as to the bust cup, indicated by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1, it being understood that, aside from the bust cups, the brassiere may be assumed lto be of more or less standard design.

The cup 1l), as is customary in this art, is of more or less hemispherical shape, and in this embodiment comprises an upper segment 12 and a lower segment 14, these two segments being joined together along an arcuate seam 15 extending from side to side of the cup at about the level of the nipple when the bust is supported within the cup. The cup is divided roughly into quadrants, a transverse seam 18 extending from top to bottom and generally medially of the cup. The seams 15 and 18, as is customary in the art, are beaded in order to impart a slight stitfening or shaping of the cup in order that it may naturally assume a generally spherical or conical contour.

The upper segment 12 may be formed of any desired or suitable fabric, but I prefer to form this portion of the cup in two layers 201 and 24, the outer layer 20 being a fabric which is preferably continuous to the bottom of the cup and may be of a relatively close-meshed material, such as a poplin or the like of cotton or synthetic fiber, such as nylon. The outer layer in the upper segment of the cup may be backed with an inner layer 24 which may be of a fabric which is of smooth texture but somewhat stiffer than layer 20, adding to the shaperetaining character of -the segment 12.

While the fabric 24 might continue to the bottom of the cup, I prefer to employ as the inner layer of the lower segment 14. a fabric 26 which is of relatively wide-mesh and preferably formed of a suitable synthetic fiber such as those known under the trademarks of nylon, Dacron or the like. Disposed between the layers 20 and 26 is a sheet 2S (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) formed of relatively stiff and exible material and reticulated so as to provide numerous open pasa-ges, as seen best in FIG. 4. The sheet 28 is preferably a thin sheet of synthetic resinous material which will normally have sufficient stiffness to retain its shape in a given plane or curved contour while at the same time having a high degree of flexibility, so that when disposed within the cup segment 14 it will readily accept the conformation of the cup and thus provide a high degree of support to the bust. Stated differently, the sheet is non-accid but flexible.

It will be noted that the sheet 28 is provided with narrow parallel areas 30 wherein there is more material and less open spaces than in the areas between the rows 3d, and thus these areas 39 function as stiifening ribs. As seen in FIG. l, the sheets 2S are so positioned within the lower segments 14 that the rib portions 30 extend more or less in an up-and-down direction and thus contribute materially to the uplift effectiveness of the cup.

The sheet 2S may be formed in a variety of ways. In the form shown in FIG. 4, a lament of synthetic material such as nylon, etc., is woven into a lace-like construction and is then cured or hardened by baking at a suitable elevated temperature for such length of time as to convert the material into a character of stiffness together with resilience. This is a technique Well known to those skilled in the art of synthetic resins and therefore need not be described here with any particularity.

FIG. 5 illustrates another form of stitfening sheet 28a which might be used in lieu of element 2S, just described. Sheet 28a might be formed from a thin sheet of suitable plastic material having sufiicient rigidity and resilience, as described above, certain areas arranged as spaced parallel lines 39a being denser and, hence, stiffer than the areas therebetween. The sheet 28a might be formed in any suitable manner, as by punching or perforating a thin sheet of plastic material to provide a plurality of holes, the areas 30a being denser as by having less perforated area than the spaces between the areas 30a.

In fabricating the embodiment shown in FIG. l, a sheet of stiffening material 23 or 28a, such as that illus- 4trated in FIGS. 4 and 5, is cut to conform to fthe lower segment 14, with the stiiening ribs or lines 30 or 30a extending in a generally up-and-down direction, and this sheet is inserted between the outer member 20 and the inner member 26 and stitched in position.

It will be seen that I have provided a brassiere which provides all of the necessary support and uplift to meet the demands of present day styling. Firm uplifting support is provided by the relatively dense spaced areas 30,

30a of the stilfening sheets 28 and 28a, lthese areas functioning in a somewhat similar manner to stays which have heretofore been employed in brassiere construction. However, additionally, firm, resiliently yielding support is likewise provided by the reticulated areas of the stiffening sheets between the spaced areas 30, 30a. Thus, the entire area in the lower segment of the bust cup may be said to provide rm but resiliently yielding support. At the same time, ample ventilation is provided by reason of the reticulated character of the stiffening sheets throughout their entire extent. The `inner facing of the bust cup provided by sheets 24 and 26 is so chosen as to be soft and comfortable to the skin. Thus, the entire construction is designed to provide maximum comfort together with adequate support.

My invention is applicable to a wide variety of styles and constructions of brassieres, `and FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 along with FIG. 1 are merely a few illustrative examples of certain bust cup constructions and brassiere styles to which my invention is applicable.

In FIG. 6 the bust cup I10a has an upper segment 12a and a lower segment 14a, the two segments being joined by a beading 15a. The cup comprises an inner sheet 40 formed of a suitable open-mesh fabric, preferably of nylon, Daeron or similar smooth synthetic fiber which will be comfortable to the skin. Joined to the layer 40 by -the transverse beading 15a and suitable peripheral beading is an outer fabric 42, also preferably of an openmeshV character, which may if desired be an ornamental lace or the like.

Inserted between the layers 40 and 42 at the bottom of the lower segment 14a is a stiifening element 45 similar in character to element 28 or 28a.

It will be noted in FIG. 6 that the stiifening element 45 has -an upper edge of scalloped conformation, with a maximum rise at the center. Such a construction may be desirable in some cases, inasmuch as the widest portion of the stilfening element is disposed adjacent the midportion of the bust where there is a maximum amount of tissue to be supported, providing the uplift at this point demanded by current styling.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the bust cup 10b is constructed generally similar to that of FIG. 6, described above, except for lthe arrangement of the stitiening elements disposed between Ithe inner and outer plies 40 and 42 respectively. In this case the stilfening means is provided in the form of a pair of elements 46a and 46b formed of material similar to sheets 28 and 28a shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The elements 46a and 4611 extend from top to bottom of the bust cup 10b, being spaced apart laterally, providing a more or less ellipitical space adjacent the center of the bust cup. A bust cup of this type may be desirable for certain rather generously formed busts where support is desired -at the sides as well as the bottom of the bust.

FIG. 8 shows still another bust cup construction employing my invention and embodied in a different type of garment, known as a long-waist brassiere. In this case the cup 10c is generally similar to cups 10, 10a and 10b described above except that the stiffening element 48 disposed at the bottom of the cup between the outer and inner plies is of a more or less parabolic configuration. This construction is suitable for figures where only a modicum of support is required.

It will be seen that, in all of the embodiments shown and described, my invention provides all of the required support to provide the highly desired uplift which is considered necessary in the modern figure, such uplift being firmly but yieldably applied with a maximum of comfort. Furthermore, garments embodying my invention, while providing all or more than all of the support provided by stays as heretofore employed in brassieres yfor this purpose, may be constructedrat a great saving in cost as compared with such stay-embodying constructions.

4 Instead of having to position and secure each individual stay in its proper place in the bust cup, with my invention it is merely necessary to attach a sheet 28 or the like which has already been cut to the desired size and shape.

Various changes coming within Ithe spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a garment for feminine wear, :a bust cup of generally hemispherical conformation having a bust-supporta ing element in at least the lower segment of the cup, said element comprising a relatively stiff, non-accid, relatively thin sheet of flexible and resilient reticulated material having a plurality of relatively narrow, generally parallel, horizontally spaced-apart, generally stiff areas with areas of lesser stiffness therebetween, said stiff areas defining stiifening ribs, said areas and said ribs extending generally in an up-and-down direction, said element being formed of cured synthetic plastic filaments which have, in raw condition, been interlaced to form a lattice, said elements being interlaced more `densely in said stilf areas than in the areas therebetween.

2. A combination yas in claim 1, wherein said ribs are disposed only in the lower segment of the cup.

3. In a garment for feminine wear, a bust cup of generally hemispherical conformation having a bust-supporting element in at least -the lower segment of the cup, said element comprising a relatively sti, non-flaccid, relatively thin sheet of flexible and resilient reticulated m-afterial having a plurality of relatively narrow, generally parallel, horizontaly spaced-apart, generally stiff areas with areas of lesser stilfness therebetween, said stiff areas defining stifening ribs, said areas and said ribs extending generally in an upanddown direction, said element being formed of synthetic plastic filaments interlaced to form la lattice.

4. A combination as rin claim 3, wherein said filaments are more closely spaced in said areas of greater stiffness than in said areas of lesser stiffness.

5. A combination as in claim 3, wherein said ribs are disposed only in the lower segment of the cup.

' 6. Ina garment for feminine wear, a bust cup of generally hemispherical conformation having a bust-supporting element in at least the lower ysegment of the cup, said element comprising a relatively stiff, non-flaccid, relatively thin sheet of flexible and resilient reticulated material having a plurality of relatively narrow, generally parallel, horizontally spaced-apart, generally stiff areas with areas of lesser stiffness therebetween, said stiff areas defining stiffening ribs, said areas and said ribs extending generally in an up-anddown direction, each of said areas being formed of iilaments interlaced to form a lattice.

7. A combination as in claim 6, wherein said filaments are more closely spaced in said areas of greater stiffness than in said areas of lesser stiffness.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,301,499 Amyot -..f Nov. 10, 1942 2,373,954 Frankfurther Apr. 17, 1945 2,409,089 Whitman Oct. 8, 1946 2,616,084 Shearer Nov; 4, 1952 2,627,644 4Foster Feb. 10, 1953 v2,633,126 Newmark Mar. 31, 1953 2,757,435 Bihaly Aug. 7, 1956 2,840,117 Scruggs June 24, 1958 2,867,889 ThompsonV Jan. 13, 1959 2,892,459 Rosenthal June 30, 1959 2,893,396 Thompson July 7, 1959V 2,915,067 Bracht Dec. 1, 1959 

